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Written Question
Electricity Generation: Nationalisation
Monday 1st July 2019

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the re-nationalisation of electricity networks on the level of personal pensions.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is fully committed to a model of private ownership with strong independent economic regulation and ensuring this model delivers for consumers. The Government has not conducted a recent assessment of the merits of private sector ownership of electricity networks; nor an assessment of the potential effect of the re-nationalisation of electricity networks on the level of personal pensions.


Written Question
Film: Finance
Tuesday 19th March 2019

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme in helping domestic film production companies raise funding.

Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme was introduced in 2012 to support investment in very early-stage companies, which often struggle to access growth capital.

As a non-sectoral scheme, no assessment has been made of the application of the SEIS to specific industries or sectors. Since its introduction, the scheme has helped over 8,000 companies from a range of industries to raise around £800 million in investment.

The government recognises the importance of the film industry to the UK economy, which is why it offers specific support for the production of culturally British films. Last year alone the film tax relief provided support worth £469 million, in addition to nearly £70 million in direct funding.


Written Question
Social Services: Children
Wednesday 13th March 2019

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 5.16 of Budget 2018, what proportion of the £410 million for adult and children's social care will be allocated to children’s social care.

Answered by Elizabeth Truss

Autumn Budget 2018 provided a further £410 million in 2019-20 for adults and children’s social care. Where necessary, local councils should use this funding to ensure that adult social care pressures do not create additional demand on the NHS. Local councils can also use it to improve their social care offer for older people, people with disabilities and children.


Written Question
Film: Finance
Wednesday 27th February 2019

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to support domestic film production companies to raise funding.

Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The UK film industry is a great success story, contributing an estimated £4 billion a year to the economy and supporting nearly 70,000 jobs. Last year the government provided £469 million worth of support through the film tax relief and almost £70 million in grant in aid and national lottery funding through the British Film Institute.

The film tax relief supports the production of culturally British films. 2,420 films have benefitted from the film tax relief since it was introduced in 2007.

The British Film Institute supports UK film production companies through the BFI Film Fund, investing in the production of films from adventurous storytellers, the BFI Locked Box initiative, enabling production companies to benefit from the success of their films, and the BFI Vision Awards, supporting new film producers to build their companies.


Written Question
Infrastructure: Clacton
Monday 12th November 2018

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taking to invest in infrastructure in the Clacton region.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

We are committed to making sure every area of the country has modern and efficient infrastructure. By the end of the parliament, public capital investment will reach levels not sustained in 40 years.

Essex will receive £19 million for local roads maintenance in 2018/19, and DfT has provided £4 million to Essex County Council for development funding for improvements to the A120. In the last 5 years access to Superfast Broadband in Clacton has risen from 77% to 98%.

The Budget announced new programmes delivered at the local level to address barriers to productivity and increased funding for existing programmes, including an additional £420 million in 2018/19 to tackle potholes, repair damaged roads, and invest in keeping bridges open and safe. The £675 million Future High Streets Fund will support and fund local areas’ plans to make their high streets and town centres fit for the future, and the Budget also announced £150 million funding pot for a new competition for small improvements projects such as roundabouts.


Written Question
Child Tax Credits: Apprentices
Wednesday 16th May 2018

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to make low income families eligible for child tax credits if their child undertakes an apprenticeship.

Answered by Elizabeth Truss

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit support parents with the extra costs of raising a child. Both are payable for children until 31st August following their 16th birthday. After this, the young person must satisfy additional conditions: they must remain in full-time, non-advanced education up to and including A-level/GNVQ level 3, or equivalent, or they must be undertaking a course of approved training. If a young person is undertaking a paid apprenticeship, or they are in training or education by virtue of a contract of employment, the family is no longer eligible.


Written Question
Child Benefit: Apprentices
Wednesday 16th May 2018

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to allow low income families to continue claiming child benefit if their child undertakes an apprenticeship.

Answered by Elizabeth Truss

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit support parents with the extra costs of raising a child. Both are payable for children until 31st August following their 16th birthday. After this, the young person must satisfy additional conditions: they must remain in full-time, non-advanced education up to and including A-level/GNVQ level 3, or equivalent, or they must be undertaking a course of approved training. If a young person is undertaking a paid apprenticeship, or they are in training or education by virtue of a contract of employment, the family is no longer eligible.


Written Question
Vocational Training: VAT
Tuesday 1st May 2018

Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the application of VAT to providers of vocational training.

Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Under UK law, vocational training is VAT exempt where it is provided by specific eligible bodies, including universities, schools and certain not-for-profit institutions. The normal VAT rules apply the standard rate of 20% to most commercial providers of vocational training.